Post by loststarfish on Mar 4, 2010 18:12:11 GMT -5
Please note that this is a string of theories that comprise one large mega theory. It is based on the following points, though we encourage you read the full explanation for better clarification.
1. If Jacob and Anti-Jacob are supposed to embody two opposing forces, white and black, yin and yang, it is possible that we are dealing with the same person.
2. Jacob and Anti-Jacob cannot kill eachother nor can they directly kill a candidate.
3. Candidates can kill each other.
4. Anti-Jacob willingly came to the island as a sacrifice to save someone he loved.
5. Jacob is eternal as he has imbued Anti-Jacob and others with his power.
6. Jacob is able to manipulate things on the island via Hurley and those loyal to him whom have been imbued with his power.
7. Jacob is looking for Anti-Jacob's replacement, not his own.
8. Jacob will reincarnate himself through one of his loyal followers.
Explanation
Buddhist and Shinto divinities are at both times maliciously evil and benevolently good. As most viewers grew up under Western ideologies, it is natural for many people to want to apply good or evil to the players when that is not the case at all. LOST has historically borrowed heavily from Eastern ideologies, wherein there is no strict schism between the ideas of good and evil. These religions also have many deities that are assigned to specific areas or set specific tasks.
As such you have Jacob, all powerful immortal who has both good and evil traits. It may also be safe to assume that Jacob is a lesser entity in charge of just the island, which would be in line with Eastern ideologies. The blonde boy with bloody hands that anti-Jacob sees in the jungle may be his boss or just another rung up the ladder, as in Stephen King's Insomnia.
Jacob may have made an offer of sorts, similar to that of Juliet and Dogen, to Anti-Jacob by offering to save the life of someone whom Anti-Jacob loved. The terms may have been that in return Anti-Jacob must come to his island to work and never see the person he is saving. As we know this occurred with Juliet's sister and Dogen's son. It may also be safe to assume that Jacob himself was given an offer much like this by a higher power thus his attachment to the island. Nevertheless, more than likely Anti-Jacob agreed, and as Juliet & Dogen before him he received a very specific job. He was assigned as the island's protector, or rather the muscle to protect it. To better facilitate this purpose Jacob splits off the darker part of his power (as a benevolent being), and infuses Anti-Jacob with it thus allowing the man to become an immortal. Anti-Jacob then exists to keep the island safe as "Cereberus," while Jacob brings people to the island to act as its caregivers, much like Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.
Over time Anti-Jacob begins to tire of this arrangement, and wants to leave the island and go home, but he cannot as he is now tied to the island. He begins to think that in killing Jacob he will become free, but does not realize that Jacob's spirit cannot die.
But why would Jacob have an evil side that is seemingly working against him...why would he give someone that power?
Anti-Jacob may well have been truly agreeable and willing to Jacob's terms in the beginning, but much like Juliet, may have tired and wanted to go home. When Anti-Jacob was initially a man he may have been the first true infection. Having so much dark energy within him may have permanently contaminated his soul thus truly creating the polar contrast to Jacob. The bloody blonde boy told Anti-Jacob, "You know the rules, you can't kill him." Perhaps in a nod to Harry Potter, neither can die while the other one lives. The only way Anti-Jacob can kill Jacob would be to kill himself somehow in the process. This would also explain why Jacob is still walking around the island manipulating things via Hurley. His spirit has not been destroyed, and eventually will find another body to inhabit thus continuing the infinite time cycle or the concept of the Shen Ring. The Shen ring is an ancient Egyptian symbol of eternity and protection.
Since we cannot trust Anti-Jacob the candidates may be for his replacement, and not for Jacob's as he states.
Jacob may be able to transfer power from one willing person to the next. An ability reserved only for him since it is his own power that he’s using. Anti-Jacob doesn't like this idea because 1) he is powerful right now and 2) if that power is taken away what's stopping Jacob or the new Anti-Jacob from killing him. Which would explain why Anti-Jacob is rounding up candidates. If they are already under his influence then perhaps Jacob cannot use them. Meaning if they have been infected then Jacob would be loathe transferring power to that person, he would be creating another person that hates him enough to want to kill him. If Anti-Jacob has been walking around taking the forms of certain people, aka Christian Shepherd, Alex Rousseau, Yemi, he may have been trying to find one that would garner the most followers or the followers he wanted. This may be why Anti-Jacob ultimately took the form of a candidate.
Of all the candidates, Locke wanted to protect the island the most. He wanted to stay on the island the most. He would have been Jacob's most willing successor to Anti-Jacob. Precisely the person Anti-Jacob would want under his control the most. Anti-Jacob had already attempted to kidnap Locke as early as the first season when he attempted to pull him underground. This failed when he got pulled out of the hole.
There seem to be implied Rules of the Island that both Jacob & Anti-Jacob abide by. They seem to indicate that Jacob & Anti-Jacob cannot kill each other, and also that a candidate cannot be killed by them. This is implied by the blonde boy with bloody hands, and the fact that we have not seen Jacob or Anti-Jacob actually kill a candidate themselves though Anti-Jacob has attempted to do so indirectly. Anti-Jacob took the form of Dave in an attempt to convince Hurley to commit suicide by jumping off a cliff in season two. Besides this there seems to be nothing stopping candidates from killing each other. Shannon gets shot by Ana Lucia, Rutherford is listed in the Lighthouse and in the cave. Locke kills Naomi Dorrit who is suspected of being a name in the Lighthouse. Sawyer shoots Mr. Friendly after he surrenders. The list goes on. So Anti-Jacob could be rounding up candidates for the sole purpose of having a Battle Royale where they all kill each other while he just watches. The fear of the rules keeps anti-Jacob in line and keeps Jacob safe, hence why Jacob did not seem concerned about the discussion of a loophole; the rules would create the ultimate Catch-22.
As Jacob's spirit cannot be killed he may very well choose the body of someone we know to be reincarnated. I believe Richard or Dogen may be the next incarnation of Jacob. Both seem to have been given special abilities by Jacob. Richard is seemingly immortal and able to recognize peoples spirits (but he seemed oblivious to the fact that it was Anti-Jacob that helped him to heal real Locke after real Locke got shot) and Dogen was the force keeping Anti-Jacob out of the temple. Both seem to be traits of Jacob yet they are still mortal men. This theory make work like the horcruxes of Harry Potter, but in a less evil way. Adding strength to the Dogen theory, he did not seem to resist Sayid’s murder of him. The pool is not exceedingly deep, three feet at most. It would have been possible for Dogen to find his legs and counterattack Sayid given his extensive knowledge of martial arts. Dogen is the only character on LOST that has been able to best Sayid in hand-to-hand combat. Sayid had beaten countless others, including trained mercenary Keamy and military veteran Mikhail, the latter with only one good arm. Dogen seemed to have left his guard down and left himself vulnerable after telling the story of how he had come to the island, but it is unlikely that he would have unintentionally left himself in that situation without knowledge of another sacrifice he may have to make.
Dogen, being the Temple Master and knowing about the candidates, knows that Jacob and Anti-Jacob cannot kill candidates. He knew Sayid was a candidate and purposefully set things in motion that would ensure Sayid would want to want to leave for the purpose he did. He attempted to have Jack poison him knowing that Jack would not go through with it but create doubt in Sayid. Then when Sayid eventually challenges him he can stage a fight which would then banish Sayid. Anti-Jacob arrives and he sends Sayid out to talk to him, thus ensuring his transformation would be complete, and then does not have him removed from the temple after Sayid delivered his message. Dogen's seeming inability to kill candidates himself points to him being tied to the same rules as Jacob and Anti-Jacob. Perhaps those who share in Jacob’s power are limited to his rules. Plus Dogen making a sacrifice (again mind you) would allow another to live, Jacob. He was drown in Jacob’s pool of watery resurrection, and Jacob was seen fiddling near the water's edge in "Lighthouse" when Hurley asked where the cafeteria was located. Two of the three characters drowned in that pool, Sayid and Ben (implied) have returned to life. It is safe to assume that Dogen himself will return to life.
It may also not be outside the realm of possibility that, although Jacob only makes himself visible to Hurley, he may be able to speak to Dogen and Richard in other ways, such as in meditative visions. After all Richard never comes back to the temple when he was easily a day's walk from it. He may have been tipped off by Jacob to stay away, likewise Dogen was informed that he would have to die. With the island being at the bottom of the sea in the flash sideways, perhaps that's what would happen if Anti-Jacob kills both of himself and Jacob at the same time.
1. If Jacob and Anti-Jacob are supposed to embody two opposing forces, white and black, yin and yang, it is possible that we are dealing with the same person.
2. Jacob and Anti-Jacob cannot kill eachother nor can they directly kill a candidate.
3. Candidates can kill each other.
4. Anti-Jacob willingly came to the island as a sacrifice to save someone he loved.
5. Jacob is eternal as he has imbued Anti-Jacob and others with his power.
6. Jacob is able to manipulate things on the island via Hurley and those loyal to him whom have been imbued with his power.
7. Jacob is looking for Anti-Jacob's replacement, not his own.
8. Jacob will reincarnate himself through one of his loyal followers.
Explanation
Buddhist and Shinto divinities are at both times maliciously evil and benevolently good. As most viewers grew up under Western ideologies, it is natural for many people to want to apply good or evil to the players when that is not the case at all. LOST has historically borrowed heavily from Eastern ideologies, wherein there is no strict schism between the ideas of good and evil. These religions also have many deities that are assigned to specific areas or set specific tasks.
As such you have Jacob, all powerful immortal who has both good and evil traits. It may also be safe to assume that Jacob is a lesser entity in charge of just the island, which would be in line with Eastern ideologies. The blonde boy with bloody hands that anti-Jacob sees in the jungle may be his boss or just another rung up the ladder, as in Stephen King's Insomnia.
Jacob may have made an offer of sorts, similar to that of Juliet and Dogen, to Anti-Jacob by offering to save the life of someone whom Anti-Jacob loved. The terms may have been that in return Anti-Jacob must come to his island to work and never see the person he is saving. As we know this occurred with Juliet's sister and Dogen's son. It may also be safe to assume that Jacob himself was given an offer much like this by a higher power thus his attachment to the island. Nevertheless, more than likely Anti-Jacob agreed, and as Juliet & Dogen before him he received a very specific job. He was assigned as the island's protector, or rather the muscle to protect it. To better facilitate this purpose Jacob splits off the darker part of his power (as a benevolent being), and infuses Anti-Jacob with it thus allowing the man to become an immortal. Anti-Jacob then exists to keep the island safe as "Cereberus," while Jacob brings people to the island to act as its caregivers, much like Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.
Over time Anti-Jacob begins to tire of this arrangement, and wants to leave the island and go home, but he cannot as he is now tied to the island. He begins to think that in killing Jacob he will become free, but does not realize that Jacob's spirit cannot die.
But why would Jacob have an evil side that is seemingly working against him...why would he give someone that power?
Anti-Jacob may well have been truly agreeable and willing to Jacob's terms in the beginning, but much like Juliet, may have tired and wanted to go home. When Anti-Jacob was initially a man he may have been the first true infection. Having so much dark energy within him may have permanently contaminated his soul thus truly creating the polar contrast to Jacob. The bloody blonde boy told Anti-Jacob, "You know the rules, you can't kill him." Perhaps in a nod to Harry Potter, neither can die while the other one lives. The only way Anti-Jacob can kill Jacob would be to kill himself somehow in the process. This would also explain why Jacob is still walking around the island manipulating things via Hurley. His spirit has not been destroyed, and eventually will find another body to inhabit thus continuing the infinite time cycle or the concept of the Shen Ring. The Shen ring is an ancient Egyptian symbol of eternity and protection.
Since we cannot trust Anti-Jacob the candidates may be for his replacement, and not for Jacob's as he states.
Jacob may be able to transfer power from one willing person to the next. An ability reserved only for him since it is his own power that he’s using. Anti-Jacob doesn't like this idea because 1) he is powerful right now and 2) if that power is taken away what's stopping Jacob or the new Anti-Jacob from killing him. Which would explain why Anti-Jacob is rounding up candidates. If they are already under his influence then perhaps Jacob cannot use them. Meaning if they have been infected then Jacob would be loathe transferring power to that person, he would be creating another person that hates him enough to want to kill him. If Anti-Jacob has been walking around taking the forms of certain people, aka Christian Shepherd, Alex Rousseau, Yemi, he may have been trying to find one that would garner the most followers or the followers he wanted. This may be why Anti-Jacob ultimately took the form of a candidate.
Of all the candidates, Locke wanted to protect the island the most. He wanted to stay on the island the most. He would have been Jacob's most willing successor to Anti-Jacob. Precisely the person Anti-Jacob would want under his control the most. Anti-Jacob had already attempted to kidnap Locke as early as the first season when he attempted to pull him underground. This failed when he got pulled out of the hole.
There seem to be implied Rules of the Island that both Jacob & Anti-Jacob abide by. They seem to indicate that Jacob & Anti-Jacob cannot kill each other, and also that a candidate cannot be killed by them. This is implied by the blonde boy with bloody hands, and the fact that we have not seen Jacob or Anti-Jacob actually kill a candidate themselves though Anti-Jacob has attempted to do so indirectly. Anti-Jacob took the form of Dave in an attempt to convince Hurley to commit suicide by jumping off a cliff in season two. Besides this there seems to be nothing stopping candidates from killing each other. Shannon gets shot by Ana Lucia, Rutherford is listed in the Lighthouse and in the cave. Locke kills Naomi Dorrit who is suspected of being a name in the Lighthouse. Sawyer shoots Mr. Friendly after he surrenders. The list goes on. So Anti-Jacob could be rounding up candidates for the sole purpose of having a Battle Royale where they all kill each other while he just watches. The fear of the rules keeps anti-Jacob in line and keeps Jacob safe, hence why Jacob did not seem concerned about the discussion of a loophole; the rules would create the ultimate Catch-22.
As Jacob's spirit cannot be killed he may very well choose the body of someone we know to be reincarnated. I believe Richard or Dogen may be the next incarnation of Jacob. Both seem to have been given special abilities by Jacob. Richard is seemingly immortal and able to recognize peoples spirits (but he seemed oblivious to the fact that it was Anti-Jacob that helped him to heal real Locke after real Locke got shot) and Dogen was the force keeping Anti-Jacob out of the temple. Both seem to be traits of Jacob yet they are still mortal men. This theory make work like the horcruxes of Harry Potter, but in a less evil way. Adding strength to the Dogen theory, he did not seem to resist Sayid’s murder of him. The pool is not exceedingly deep, three feet at most. It would have been possible for Dogen to find his legs and counterattack Sayid given his extensive knowledge of martial arts. Dogen is the only character on LOST that has been able to best Sayid in hand-to-hand combat. Sayid had beaten countless others, including trained mercenary Keamy and military veteran Mikhail, the latter with only one good arm. Dogen seemed to have left his guard down and left himself vulnerable after telling the story of how he had come to the island, but it is unlikely that he would have unintentionally left himself in that situation without knowledge of another sacrifice he may have to make.
Dogen, being the Temple Master and knowing about the candidates, knows that Jacob and Anti-Jacob cannot kill candidates. He knew Sayid was a candidate and purposefully set things in motion that would ensure Sayid would want to want to leave for the purpose he did. He attempted to have Jack poison him knowing that Jack would not go through with it but create doubt in Sayid. Then when Sayid eventually challenges him he can stage a fight which would then banish Sayid. Anti-Jacob arrives and he sends Sayid out to talk to him, thus ensuring his transformation would be complete, and then does not have him removed from the temple after Sayid delivered his message. Dogen's seeming inability to kill candidates himself points to him being tied to the same rules as Jacob and Anti-Jacob. Perhaps those who share in Jacob’s power are limited to his rules. Plus Dogen making a sacrifice (again mind you) would allow another to live, Jacob. He was drown in Jacob’s pool of watery resurrection, and Jacob was seen fiddling near the water's edge in "Lighthouse" when Hurley asked where the cafeteria was located. Two of the three characters drowned in that pool, Sayid and Ben (implied) have returned to life. It is safe to assume that Dogen himself will return to life.
It may also not be outside the realm of possibility that, although Jacob only makes himself visible to Hurley, he may be able to speak to Dogen and Richard in other ways, such as in meditative visions. After all Richard never comes back to the temple when he was easily a day's walk from it. He may have been tipped off by Jacob to stay away, likewise Dogen was informed that he would have to die. With the island being at the bottom of the sea in the flash sideways, perhaps that's what would happen if Anti-Jacob kills both of himself and Jacob at the same time.
